JP2008267657A - Combustion device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To encourage an user to perform inspection more strongly than simple notification when a wear-out degree reaches a rate not lower than a prescribed rate of a durable limit wear-out degree, in a combustion device comprising a wear-out degree predicting means 93 for predicting a wear-out degree of the combustion device on the basis of an accumulated operation time or an accumulated number of times of operations. <P>SOLUTION: This combustion device comprises an ignition delay means 96 for igniting a burner after the lapse of a prescribed delay time when the ignition command of the burner is outputted after the wear-out degree predicted by the wear-out degree predicting means 93 reaches a rate not lower than a prescribed rate of a durable limit wear-out degree. Further the device comprises a delay time changing means 97 for elongating the delay time according to the increase of the wear-out degree. Further when a limit switch is operated after inspection and repair, the operation of the ignition delay means 96 is prohibited until the wear-out degree is increased by a prescribed amount. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a combustion apparatus such as a hot air heater having a burner.

  Conventionally, as this kind of combustion device, it has been provided with a wear level estimation means for estimating the wear level of the combustion device based on the cumulative operation time or the number of times of cumulative operation of the combustion device, and the wear level has reached the life limit consumption level of the combustion device Sometimes, the combustion device is disabled so that the combustion device can be prevented from being used beyond its service life limit.

By the way, depending on the usage environment of the combustion device, repair may be required before the wear level estimated by the wear level estimation means reaches the limited wear level of the combustion device. Thus, there is also known an inspection notification that prompts inspection of the combustion device when the consumption level estimated by the consumption level estimation means is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio of the life limit consumption level of the combustion device (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-62318

  However, even if the inspection notification is performed as described above, some users may use the combustion device to the end of its service life without performing the inspection.

  In view of the above points, the present invention is more than a simple notification that the user should check after the wear level estimated by the wear level estimation means exceeds a predetermined percentage of the life limit wear level of the combustion device. An object of the present invention is to provide a combustion apparatus that can be strongly urged.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a combustion apparatus having a burner, and a wear level estimation means for estimating a wear level of a combustion apparatus based on a cumulative operation time or the number of cumulative operations of the combustion apparatus; And an ignition delay means for igniting the burner after a predetermined delay time after the burn command is issued when the wear degree estimated by the estimation means is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio of the life limit wear degree of the combustion device. It is characterized by.

  Here, the predetermined ratio is determined according to the degree of wear that causes the possibility of component deterioration when the combustion apparatus is used in the worst environment. According to the present invention, after the degree of wear becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio of the life limit wear degree, the ignition of the burner is delayed and the usability is deteriorated, and the user feels inconvenience. Therefore, it is possible to strongly urge the user to check. As a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible from continuing to use the combustion apparatus without performing inspection and repair with the parts deteriorated.

  In the present invention, it is desirable to provide delay time changing means for increasing the delay time in accordance with an increase in the wear level estimated by the wear level estimation means. Here, depending on the user, even if ignition of the burner is somewhat delayed, there is a case where the inspection is not performed without worrying. Even such a user can finally decide to inspect by increasing the delay time in accordance with the increase in the degree of wear.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that a reset switch is provided, and that the operation of the ignition delay means is prohibited until the wear level estimated by the wear level estimation means increases by a predetermined amount after the reset switch is operated. According to this, by operating the reset switch after inspection, the burner can be returned to a state where it can be ignited without delay, and the user is not inconvenienced.

  FIG. 1 shows a hot air heater that is a combustion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the body 1 of the warm air heater, a lower blower fan 2, a combustion housing 4 including a burner 3 located above, and an arrangement portion of the combustion housing 4 are surrounded from above to the front. A ventilation path cover 5 is arranged. A ventilation path 6 around the combustion housing 4 is defined by the ventilation path cover 5. Then, air is sucked into the ventilation path 6 from the suction port 1a on the back surface of the container body 1 by the operation of the blower fan 2, and the combustion exhaust gas from the combustion housing 4 and the air are mixed together. It blows out as warm air from 1b.

  The combustion housing 4 is provided with an air intake port 4a at the lower rear surface for taking a part of air from the suction port 1a as combustion air and an exhaust port 4b at the upper end. A heat shield plate 7 is provided on the exhaust port 4b, and combustion exhaust gas from the exhaust port 4b passes through the lower side of the heat shield plate 7 and is sucked and exhausted to the portion of the ventilation path 6 on the front side of the combustion housing 4. I am doing so. An air filter 8 is provided to cover the suction port 1a in order to prevent dust from entering from the suction port 1a.

  FIG. 2 shows a controller 9 provided in the hot air heater. The controller 9 includes, as functional means, an ignition control means 91 for performing pre-purge when the operation start command is issued and igniting the burner 3, and a temperature detected by a room temperature sensor (not shown) increases to a heating set temperature. Temperature control means 92 for performing temperature control for increasing or decreasing the amount of combustion of the burner 3 so as to be maintained. The operation start command is issued when an operation switch (not shown) is turned on, or when a reserved operation by a timer is performed, the operation start reservation time is reached.

  As a countermeasure against deterioration, the controller 9 further includes a wear level estimation means 93 for estimating the wear level of the combustion device based on the cumulative operation time of the warm air heater, and the wear level estimated by the wear level estimation means 93 is determined by the warm air heating mode. When the exhaustion limit is reached, the alarm is issued and the burner 3 is prohibited from burning so that the warm air heater cannot be operated, and the exhaustion degree estimated by the exhaustion degree estimation means 93 When the service life exceeds a predetermined percentage of the service life limit wear level, the service notification means 95 for informing the service of the service such as lighting of the service lamp, and the power consumption estimated by the service life estimation means 93 is the service life limit wear speed. An ignition delay means 96 for igniting the burner 3 after a predetermined delay time from when the burner 3 ignition command is issued, and a delay time changing means 97 for changing the delay time according to the degree of wear. And wear level When the consumption degree estimated by the constant unit 93 exceeds a predetermined proportion of the useful limit consumption degree, and a maximum combustion amount limiting means 98 for the maximum combustion amount of burners 3 is reduced from the normal value.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the overall control content by the controller 9 will be described. First, it is determined whether or not an operation command is issued in step S1, and if an operation command is issued, it is determined whether or not the first flag F1 is set to “1” in step S2. The first flag F1 is used when the wear level estimated by the wear level estimation means 93 reaches the limit of wear limit of the hot air heater, for example, when the cumulative operation time reaches 8500 hours (600 hours corresponds to about one year). It is set from “0” to “1”. If F1 = 1, the process proceeds to step S3, where an alarm is issued and combustion of the burner 3 is prohibited and the hot air heater is disabled. The processing from the step S2 to the step S3 corresponds to the service life limit control means 94.

  If F1 = 0, it is determined in step S4 whether or not the second flag F2 is set to “1”. The second flag F2 is “0” when the wear level estimated by the wear level estimation unit 93 is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio of the service life limit wear level of the hot air heater, for example, when the cumulative operation time is 5000 hours or more. To “1”. If F2 = 1, inspection notification is given in step S5 and the process proceeds to step S6. If F2 = 0, the process proceeds directly to step S6. The process from step S4 to step S5 corresponds to the inspection notification means 95.

  In step S6, the blower fan 2 is activated to perform pre-purge for a predetermined time. In step S7, it is determined whether or not the pre-purge is completed. Here, conventionally, an ignition command is issued upon completion of pre-purge, and the burner 3 is ignited in step S10. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the pre-purge is completed, it is determined again in step S8 whether or not the second flag F2 is set to “1”. If F2 = 1, the process proceeds to step S9, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined delay time has elapsed since the completion of the pre-purge, that is, the time when the ignition command is issued. Then, when the delay time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S10 and the burner 3 is ignited. If F2 = 0, the process proceeds directly to step S10. The process from the step S8 to the step S10 through the step S9 corresponds to the ignition delay means 96.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the wear level estimated by the wear level estimation unit 93 is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio of the service life limit wear level and the second flag F2 is set to “1”, the inspection notification is performed. Not only that, but the ignition is delayed, so it takes time for the hot air to blow out, making it unusable. As a result, the user feels inconvenience, and the user can be strongly encouraged to check. As a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible from continuing to use the hot air heater without performing inspection and repair with the parts deteriorated.

  Further, the delay time is changed by the delay time changing means 97 so that the delay time becomes longer as the wear degree estimated by the wear degree estimating means 93 increases. For example, when the cumulative operation time is 5000 hours or more and less than 7000 hours, the delay time is set to 5 seconds, and when the cumulative operation time is 7000 hours or more and less than 8000 hours, the delay time is set to 10 seconds. When the time is 8000 hours or more and less than 8500 hours, the delay time is set to 20 seconds. Accordingly, even a user who leaves the burner 3 without being concerned even if the ignition of the burner 3 is somewhat delayed can finally determine the inspection by increasing the delay time.

  The warm air heater is provided with a reset switch (not shown) as a hidden switch for the trader. When the repairer operates the reset switch after the hot air heater has been inspected and repaired, the second flag F2 even if the wear level estimated by the wear level estimation means 93 is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio of the service life limit wear level. Is reset to “0” and then the second flag F2 is not set to “1” until the wear level increases by a predetermined amount. Therefore, if inspection and repair are performed, the inspection notification is canceled until the degree of wear increases by a predetermined amount, the operation of the ignition delay means 96 is prohibited, and the burner 3 is returned to a state where it can be ignited without delay. Inconvenience.

  After the burner 3 is ignited, operation time measurement is started in step S11, the consumption degree is counted up by the consumption degree estimation means 93, and temperature control is performed in step S12. Here, the maximum combustion amount of the burner 3 in the temperature control is increased by the maximum combustion amount restriction means 98 when the consumption degree estimated by the consumption degree estimation means 93 is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio of the life limit consumption degree. It is reduced with it. For example, when the cumulative operation time is 5000 hours or more and less than 7000 hours, the maximum combustion amount is limited to 90% of the normal value, and when the cumulative operation time is 7000 hours or more and less than 8000 hours, the maximum combustion amount is the normal value. When the cumulative operation time is 8000 hours or more and less than 8500 hours, the maximum combustion amount is limited to 70% of the normal value. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an abnormality due to an excessive increase in the amount of combustion in a state where the parts are deteriorated.

  After the start of the temperature control, it is determined whether or not an operation stop command has been issued in step S13, and the temperature control is continued until an operation stop command is issued. The operation stop command is issued when the operation stop switch is operated or when the operation timer expires. When the operation stop command is issued, the combustion of the burner 3 is stopped and the blower fan 2 is stopped in step S14, and the operation time is measured, that is, the consumption degree in the consumption degree estimation means 93 is measured. End the count-up.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to this. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the consumption degree estimation unit 93 estimates the consumption degree of the hot air heater based on the accumulated operation time, but estimates the consumption degree based on the accumulated operation number of the hot air heater. You may do it. Moreover, although the said embodiment applies this invention to a warm air heater, this invention is applicable to combustion apparatuses other than a warm air heater similarly.

The cut side view of the combustion apparatus (warm air heater) of the embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram of the controller of the combustion apparatus of embodiment. The flowchart which shows the control content of the controller of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  3 ... burner, 9 ... controller, 93 ... consumption level estimating means, 96 ... ignition delay means, 97 ... delay time changing means.

Claims (3)

  A combustion apparatus having a burner, wherein a wear level estimation means for estimating a wear level of the combustion apparatus based on a cumulative operation time or a cumulative number of times of operation of the combustion apparatus, and a wear level estimated by the wear level estimation means is the durability of the combustion apparatus A combustion apparatus comprising: ignition delay means for igniting a burner after a predetermined delay time after a burner ignition command is issued when a predetermined ratio of the limit wear level is exceeded.   2. The combustion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising delay time changing means for increasing the delay time in accordance with an increase in the wear degree estimated by the wear degree estimating means.   The combustion according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a reset switch, wherein operation of the ignition delay means is prohibited until the consumption level estimated by the consumption level estimation means increases by a predetermined amount after the reset switch is operated. apparatus.